Elections to the Chamber of Deputies are held using a list proportional representation system. Each list shall contain a minimum 30% and a maximum 70% of candidates of each sex (Article 10 (3) of Law 9.504 of 30 September 1997 regulating elections).

Legal sanctions for non-compliance:

Electoral law

If the gender quota requirement is not met, candidates of the over-represented sex can be removed (but not replaced by candidates of the under-represented sex). However, this only applies if the party submits candidates of the stipulated maximum per constituency. This maximum was raised from 100% to 150% of total seats per constituency with the introduction of the quota law. Subsequently, this provision has minimized the effect of the quota provisions.

Each list shall contain a minimum 30% and a maximum 70% of candidates of each sex (Article 10 (3)).

Legal sanctions for non-compliance:

Electoral law

If the minimum per centage is not met, candidates of the over-represented sex can be removed (but not replaced by candidates of the under-represented sex). However, this only applies if the party submits candidates of the stipulated maximum per constituency. This maximum was raised from 100% to 150% of total seats per constituency with the introduction of the quota law. This provision has in practice minimized the effect of the quota provisions.

Quota at the Sub-National Level

Each list shall contain a minimum 30% and a maximum 70% of candidates of each sex (Article 10 (3)).

Legal sanctions for non-compliance:

Electoral law

If the minimum per centage is not met, candidates of the over-represented sex can be removed (but not replaced by candidates of the under-represented sex). However, this only applies if the party submits candidates of the stipulated maximum per constituency. This maximum was raised from 100% to 150% per cent of total seats per constituency with the introduction of the quota law. This provision has in practice minimized the effect of the quota provisions.

Additional information

In 1995, Brazil adopted a 20 per cent minimum quota for female candidates in local elections and, in 1997, a new electoral law established that each party or coalition must include a minimum of 30 per cent and a maximum of 70 per cent of each gender for elections at any level, held through a proportional representation system. In addition, a 2009 amendment to the electoral law requires that political parties use at least 10 per cent of their free broadcast time and 5 per cent of their public campaign funds to promote the participation of women in politics.